Piston ring



Patented Ecc. 18, 1923.

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fr r c PISTON RING.

Application led October 11, 1922. Serial No. 593,764.

To at? 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elyria, in the count-y or Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Piston Rings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates 'to piston rings of the resiiient metal split ring type and has for its object to provide a construction which provides a better seal against the leakage of gas past the split in the ring.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part oi' this specification in which Fig. l is plan view oi the ring; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 ot Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the filler strip.

Referring to the annexed drawings, the resilient metal ring 1 is formed at the split to provide interfitting ends having upper and lower projections 2 and 3 in slidable engagement along a central plane and having square outer ends adapted to abut corresponding shoulders at the inner ends of the projection. The upper edge of the ring, i. e., the edge toward the head of the piston is provided with a circumferentially extending groove 4 in which is fitted an arcuate filler strip 5. .The groove 4 extends substantially to the central plane of the ring so that its bottom is in alignment with the upper edge of the projection 3 on one side of the split and entirelyT through the projection 2 on the opposite side of the split. rThe arcuate iiller 5 is inserted in the groove 4 in a position to extend across the split and is rigidly secured n the groove 4 at one side or' the split, preferably on the side having the projection 2. The iller strip 5 iits in the groove with its upper edge flush with the edge of the ring l and bridges the. space between the end of the projection 2 and the shoulder on the opposite side of the split toward and over which the projection 2 moves as the ring is expanded or contracted. In fitting the ring l on the piston it is placed with the grooved edge in which the filler strip is secured toward the top or head of the piston. The ring due to its inherent resiliency expands into snug contact with the wall of the cylinder and due to the ex pansion of the ring the projections 2 and 3 are separated from the opposed shoulders.

The overlapping projections do not form a perfect seal against escape of gas past the piston or the leakage of gasoline into the crank case with the consequent loss of power and impairment of the viscosity of the lubricating oil in the crank case. rIhe filler strip 5 bridges the gap between the projection 2 and the opposed shoulder and between the upper edge of the ring groove and the projection 3 and provides an effective seai at the joint, practicaly preventing leakage of gas or liquid fuel past the piston. The filler strip 5 also serves to hold the free ends of the ring in proper alignment and to maintain the projections 2 and 3 in close engagement without interfering with the freedom of movement thereof. The improved ring can be manufactured cheaply since only the simplest of machine operations are required and is very durable since it has no parts liable to become broken or distorted when in use.

Having described my invention, I claime- 1. A. piston ring comprising a resilient expansible split ring having shouldered ends formed to provide interfitting projecting portions overlapping circumferentially, one edge or' said ring havin a circumferentially extending groove of su stantially the depth of the projecting end portion on the grooved side of the ring and extending across the split, and an arcuate filler strip fit-ting in said groove and bridging the space between said projecting portion of the ring end through which the groove extends and the corresponding shoulder upon the other ring end.

2. A piston ring comprising a resilient expansible split ring having shouldered ends formed to provide interfitting projecting portions overlappingeircumifercntially, one edge of said ring having a circinnferentially extending groove ot' substantially the depth of the projecting end portion on the grooved side of the ring and extending across the spiit, and an arcuate filler strip fitting in said groove with its outer edge flush with the edge of said ring, said strip being fixe-d in said groove at one side of the split and bridging the space between said projecting portion of the ring end through which the groove extends and the corresponding shoulder upon `the other ring end.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto atix my signature.

EDWARD M. ILLIAMS. 

